Cal 1400 - soft bag suggestion

[toaster404]

The hard bags on my 1400 touring are huge and really quite hideous.  They do come with nice black supports.  I am thinking of getting some soft or semi-soft bags to use when I don't want the huge hard bags.  Any suggestions?  I'm tempted to just put some nice leather cruiser bags on.  Maybe convert some decent throwovers. 

Any suggestions very welcome.

[Red Dog]

I used these when I had my C14 & I liked them.

[Zazu]

I added these leather Hepco & Becker 30L Buffalo bags to my Cali Custom. Lockable, and quickly removable using the c-bow mounting system. Not cheap, but I think they look sharp.

[rboe]

I bought a medium dry bag from Wolfman for the large odd things (tent, sleeping pad etc.) to supplement my saddlebags, tail box and tank bag.

Used it on my CB1100 with just a tailrack for a long weekend at Death Valley. For shorter trips this has been wonderful - if you have rear rack. Or just drape it across the rear seat. They have a small and a large bag too. When it does not need to hold the tent and pad, it holds a ton of crap.

And waterproof.

[toaster404]

Good soft bag suggestions.

I'm considering getting Harley Heritage soft tail bags with studs, and otherwise decorating my bike as if it is a Harley.  People keep asking me if it is a Harley.  Well, it's just a sideways Harley type bike with a bit of this and that!!!   I am not sure that anyone but my wife would get the satire / parody / irony part of it.  I do tend to wear an old Harley brand jacket!!!

I'll look into the above bags.  Getting the bike narrower and less bulky would be great.  Currently riding with Kury trunk thing that acts like backrest on the passenger seat.

Speaking of seats - who designed that monstrous thing?  I'm considering looking for a used one somewhere and making my own foam and cover.  I haven't done that, but it can't be too hard.  I'm riding with foam taped to the seat and an Air Hawk, with the back rest set to get me into the right position.  Thinking of pulling the floorboards back, too. I don't have the heel shifter on. Figured out how to do that.  Minimal fabbing and no permanent mods required. 

Makes me wonder whether a real touring setup would be marketable.  Seat, bags, windblast control, fuel management, exhaust, everything. 

I am so tempted to turn my California into a fake Harley. 

[n3303j]

I am so tempted to turn my California into a fake Harley.

Funny you should say that as I just finished turning the "Fake Harley" I purchased back into a stock V11EV. Cut the braided tassels off the brake levers, removed studded leather collars from the fork tubes and crash bars, removed billet caliper covers, regulator cover, driver floorboard covers and passenger floorboards.  Got rid of brows and masks on most of the lights, about a dozen eagles and a half dozen small leather bags. Final removal will be the rear rack leather bag and two OEM leather side bags. Oh; also a pair of spotlights, a whole bunch of chrome screw covers, exhaust shields and various extensions that went over shift levers etc. Box this all ended up on has got to weigh at least 50#.

I'd swear she breathed a sigh of relief at being totally exposed to daylight, fresh air and being free to run unencumbered.

But...... If you really want a V-Twin done right (fake Harley) I do have a stack of Del Pretto Moto billet accessories for sale at "Fire Sale" prices.

I chose the H&B Junior 40L as I want the space to travel. Suppose the 30L would be a more trim solution.

 A different post mentions the H&B hard bags will mount on the H&B leather bag mounts and the support shelf will keep the hard bags from blowing off on the big bumps. I will have to weld on a latch tab.

[Zoom Zoom]

Much to my dismay, I have been waiting for a factory hard bag option for the 1400 Eldo, which STILL has not happened. I recently fabricated a set of brackets that would hold some soft bags out from the shocks and fender. I purchased a set of Givi  EA100 bags. They are, (I think), about 30 liter but expand to 40 liter. I used them for the first time going to New Cumberland this weekend. they worked out well. I'm not crazy about the straps over the back seat, but for now I have no choice. Until what I want comes along, I'm satisfied with these. (The fender and shock being enclosed make the use of the factory brackets for the Custom/Touring a non option unless some fabrication is done.)





 
John Henry